DThe first East Coast race of the AMA Supercross season in Indianapolis was once again a piece of cake for Ryan Villopoto. Villopoto won his third final of the season, which makes the Kawasaki rider co-leader with Ryan Dungey. In the Lites, reigning champion Christophe Pourcel (Pro Circuit-Kawasaki) was the strongest, ahead of Austin Stroupe and Justin Barcia.
Strong Windham leads for 11 laps
Honda Red Bull Racing rider Davi Millsaps took the holeshot in the SX final, with Honda veteran Kevin Windham and Ryan Villopoto on his wheel. Millsaps and Windham battled for the lead, but 'K-Dub' came out on top. Behind Windham, Villopoto and Dungey were advancing. Both riders passed Millsaps and half the race Villopoto passed race leader Windham. A lap later, Dungey also matched Windham. That set the podium: Villopoto, Dungey and Windham.
Villopoto grows as the championship progresses.
Man in form Villopoto had anything but an easy evening. “RV” did not finish its qualifying series due to a crash and had to take its place in the final via the Last Chance race. Villopoto: “I was penultimate at the gate before the start of the final, but my team did a great job tonight. My bike started fantastically well, so I was able to make something of my start even from the outside!”
Cri-Cri without competition
It remains to be seen whether Christophe Pourcel can win the entire East-Coast championship with the Lites, but the Frenchman certainly started his campaign strongly. GEICO Powersports Honda's Justin Barcia took the holeshot, but Pourcel raced to the front early. The former MX2 world champion led from start to finish. Barcia was able to join at the start of the race, but he crashed on the third lap.
Christophe Pourcel did not miss his start in the East-Coast Lites championship.
“I felt good tonight,” said winner Pourcel. “Everything went smoothly and I was very satisfied with my victory. The track was quite compact and I didn't want to take any risks, so it was a shame to win here straight away." Next weekend the Monster Energy Supercross circus will head to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the eight-square event of the season.
AMA Supercross Results: Indianapolis
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
- Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
AMA Supercross standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 145
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 145
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 135
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 114
- Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 106
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 105
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 97
- Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 74
- Andrew Short, Smithville, TX, Honda, 69
- Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 61
East Coast AMA Supercross Lites Results: Indianapolis
- Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki
- Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, NC, Suzuki
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
- Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki
- Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha
- Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
- Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki
East Coast AMA Supercross Lites standings
- Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, NC, Suzuki, 22
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 20
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 18
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 16
- Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 15
- Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha, 14
- Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha, 13
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 12
- Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 11
Photos credit: Angela Hall/Supercross.com
